Sometimes I am not the brightest bulb in the tree. My car has been sitting for a few days because I take the train into school during the week. Getting home, I decided to run to the grocery store and jumped in my car starting it up. Just then, it starts shaking and I look behind thinking someone is joking around rocking my bumper. Nobody there so I think it is idling rough, but then it stops.
Only at the store when someone comments on the earthquake did it all make sense. It happened over the hill in Berkeley and was only a 3.8, to the 4.0 that happened earlier in the day. I never felt that one either. Only in California would I confuse my rough running car to an earthquake.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
To Change Your Future Alter Your Decisions Today
It has been a long time since I have felt this overwhelmed. On top of that, I am making stupid decisions by picking up shifts at the hospital. Staffing knows my school schedule, so they call me on my days off begging and saying we are short can you come in. News flash, you are always short quit being so cheap and hire some more nurses. It is hard to give up the easy money, but just picking up a shift burns you out for the day and makes it almost impossible to study after work. So finally, yesterday I told them I would not be working for at least the next 2 weeks.
I need to smarten up, because over the past two years I planned and budgeted so I would not have to work much once I got to this point.
In addition, I need to start taking care of my old brain cells and body, because I will not even go into how I have sabotaged and turned my eating, exercise and intermittent personal life into shit since school started. Time to get organized and refocused.
I need to smarten up, because over the past two years I planned and budgeted so I would not have to work much once I got to this point.
In addition, I need to start taking care of my old brain cells and body, because I will not even go into how I have sabotaged and turned my eating, exercise and intermittent personal life into shit since school started. Time to get organized and refocused.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
F.I.N.O
Only two weeks ago I was wishing for school to start again because the three months off seemed like an eternity. However, be careful what you wish for. It is not the seven different classes I am taking, the weekly quizzes or the time constraints of it all. It is getting my mind and a daily routine established to the new chaos of this journey. It is freaking me out that books and papers are already in piles on the table, shelf and floor, I need to take a deep breath, get organized and remember.
Remember that this is doable and that hundreds have done it before me, feeling the same stressful feeling of what the hell did I get myself into.
One instructor said to take the philosophy of Failure Is Not an Option. I like that mentality and will fight through until I find my new routine.
Remember that this is doable and that hundreds have done it before me, feeling the same stressful feeling of what the hell did I get myself into.
One instructor said to take the philosophy of Failure Is Not an Option. I like that mentality and will fight through until I find my new routine.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Finally
Finally school is starting tomorrow, well at least orientation for new grad students will be tomorrow. Because I really need something different to focus on outside of the generalized bullshit and daily activities that have been going on around me. Ten years ago I never would have thought it, but I am actually looking forward to learning and filling my head with subjects like physical examinations, psychiatry and advanced pathophysiology.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Minnesota, you have to love it
Don't know who the author was, but having spent 15 years in MN and considering it home away from home, it must be a someone who can laugh at themselves because they know the State and people too well.
In case you didn't know...
Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858 and was originally settled by a lost tribe of Norwegians seeking refuge from the searing heat of Wisconsin 's winters.
Minnesota gets its name from the Sioux Indian word "mah-nee-soo-tah," meaning, "No, really... They eat fish soaked in lye."
The state song of Minnesota is "Someday the Vikings will... Aw, never mind."
The Mall of America in Bloomington , Minnesota covers 9.5 million square feet and has enough space to hold 185,000 idiot teenagers yapping away on cell phones.
Madison , Minnesota is known as "the lutefisk capital of the world." Avoid this city at all costs.
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was Mary's first real acting job since leaving the "Dick van Dyke Show. The show about a single woman's struggle to find happiness in the big city was originally titled "Life Without Dick," but that was changed for some reason.
Downtown Minneapolis has an enclosed skyway system covering 52 blocks, allowing people to live, work, eat, and sleep without ever going outside. The only downside to this is that a Norwegian occasionally turns up missing.
Cartoonist Charles M. Shultz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul. He was the only artist to accurately depict the perfectly circular heads of Minnesota natives.
The Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota produces 6 million cans of Spam a year, even though no one actually eats it. Spam is a prized food in Japan & Hawaii--Spam sushi!!
Minnesota license plates are blue & white and contain the phrase "Blizzards on the 4th of July - you get used to it."
Frank C. Mars, founder of the Mars Candy Co. Was born in Newport, Minnesota. His 3 Musketeers candy bar originally contained three bars in one wrapper, each filled with a different flavor of nougat - chocolate, Spam and lutefisk.
Tonka trucks continue to be manufactured in Minnetonka, Minnesota, despite the thousands of GI Joe dolls killed by them annually in rollover accidents. No airbags, no seat belts. These things are deathtraps, I tell ya!
Author Laura Ingalls Wilder was raised at Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and was famous for writing the "Little House" series of books, as well as inventing the "Spam diet" which consists of looking at a plate of Spam until you lose your appetite. Much like the "lutefisk diet."
The snowmobile was invented in Roseau , Minnesota to allow families a means of attending 4th of July picnics.
Minnesotans are almost indistinguishable from Wisconsinites. The only way to tell them apart is to ask if they voted for Mondale in '84.
Now... it is up to you to forward this to all your friends. If one of them does not forward it to others, he/she will be given an entrance pin to attend the Eelpout Festival in Walker, MN, February 18-20, 2012.
----------------------------------------
Now, COLD is a relative thing
65° outside
Arizonans turn on the heat.
People in Minnesota plant gardens.
60° outside
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Minnesota sunbathe.
50° outside
Italian & English cars will not start.
People in Minnesota drive with the windows down.
40°
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and wool hats.
People in Minnesota throw on a flannel shirt.
35°
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Minnesota have the last cookout before it gets cold.
20°
People in Miami all die.
Minnesotans close their windows.
Zero°
Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Minnesota get out their winter coats.
10 below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Minnesota are selling cookies door to door.
20 below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Minnesota let their dogs sleep indoors.
30 below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Minnesotans get upset because they can't start the snowmobile.
40 below zero:
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Minnesota start saying..."Cold enough for ya?"
50 below zero:
Hell freezes over.
Minnesota public schools will open 2 hours late
In case you didn't know...
Minnesota became the 32nd state on May 11, 1858 and was originally settled by a lost tribe of Norwegians seeking refuge from the searing heat of Wisconsin 's winters.
Minnesota gets its name from the Sioux Indian word "mah-nee-soo-tah," meaning, "No, really... They eat fish soaked in lye."
The state song of Minnesota is "Someday the Vikings will... Aw, never mind."
The Mall of America in Bloomington , Minnesota covers 9.5 million square feet and has enough space to hold 185,000 idiot teenagers yapping away on cell phones.
Madison , Minnesota is known as "the lutefisk capital of the world." Avoid this city at all costs.
"The Mary Tyler Moore Show" was set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was Mary's first real acting job since leaving the "Dick van Dyke Show. The show about a single woman's struggle to find happiness in the big city was originally titled "Life Without Dick," but that was changed for some reason.
Downtown Minneapolis has an enclosed skyway system covering 52 blocks, allowing people to live, work, eat, and sleep without ever going outside. The only downside to this is that a Norwegian occasionally turns up missing.
Cartoonist Charles M. Shultz was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in St. Paul. He was the only artist to accurately depict the perfectly circular heads of Minnesota natives.
The Hormel Company of Austin, Minnesota produces 6 million cans of Spam a year, even though no one actually eats it. Spam is a prized food in Japan & Hawaii--Spam sushi!!
Minnesota license plates are blue & white and contain the phrase "Blizzards on the 4th of July - you get used to it."
Frank C. Mars, founder of the Mars Candy Co. Was born in Newport, Minnesota. His 3 Musketeers candy bar originally contained three bars in one wrapper, each filled with a different flavor of nougat - chocolate, Spam and lutefisk.
Tonka trucks continue to be manufactured in Minnetonka, Minnesota, despite the thousands of GI Joe dolls killed by them annually in rollover accidents. No airbags, no seat belts. These things are deathtraps, I tell ya!
Author Laura Ingalls Wilder was raised at Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and was famous for writing the "Little House" series of books, as well as inventing the "Spam diet" which consists of looking at a plate of Spam until you lose your appetite. Much like the "lutefisk diet."
The snowmobile was invented in Roseau , Minnesota to allow families a means of attending 4th of July picnics.
Minnesotans are almost indistinguishable from Wisconsinites. The only way to tell them apart is to ask if they voted for Mondale in '84.
Now... it is up to you to forward this to all your friends. If one of them does not forward it to others, he/she will be given an entrance pin to attend the Eelpout Festival in Walker, MN, February 18-20, 2012.
----------------------------------------
Now, COLD is a relative thing
65° outside
Arizonans turn on the heat.
People in Minnesota plant gardens.
60° outside
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Minnesota sunbathe.
50° outside
Italian & English cars will not start.
People in Minnesota drive with the windows down.
40°
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves, and wool hats.
People in Minnesota throw on a flannel shirt.
35°
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Minnesota have the last cookout before it gets cold.
20°
People in Miami all die.
Minnesotans close their windows.
Zero°
Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Minnesota get out their winter coats.
10 below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Minnesota are selling cookies door to door.
20 below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Minnesota let their dogs sleep indoors.
30 below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Minnesotans get upset because they can't start the snowmobile.
40 below zero:
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Minnesota start saying..."Cold enough for ya?"
50 below zero:
Hell freezes over.
Minnesota public schools will open 2 hours late
Monday, September 12, 2011
Watson, come quickly...
Remember the attention IBM received when they put their supercomputer up against previous Jeopardy winners and it beat them severely. Well it appears the supercomputer nicknamed Watson has found a new job with a major health insurance company, WellPoint.
Taking test results, medical history and all other information about the patient, the computer can make a diagnosis and treatment plan in approximately 3 seconds. Supposedly, this will be only another tool to help make decisions. I think it could be a good tool and talking to a computer might be an improvement on some doctors bedside manner.
However, dig a little deeper and you find there is also a plan for the computer to take into consideration the patient’s financial situation. Remember this is a for profit health insurance company that will be using this machine. So does anyone think for a second that a treatment plan for someone who is homeless versus someone who is financially well off will be the same?
This reminds me of a time when they said machines and computers will never replace humans on assembly lines or in manufacturing.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Picture of the Day
How to ruin a maple long john
Shopping in Hopkins Minnesota last week and I had a craving for a donut, and sometimes a maple long john is one that I prefer. However, upon approaching the display case this is what I saw and lost my appetite for all sweets. The concept might have been good because warm bacon goes so well with warm pancakes and syrup, but a cold donut with cold bacon on top just didn't do it for me.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
We all need Encouragement
With everything going on there has been a lot of stress in life lately. I know everyone has seen versions of this list, but it gave me a little needed boost.
1. There are at least two people in the world that you would die for.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. You are special and unique.
8. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you…take another look.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
MD vs. Dr.
Has the term Doctor become too generic? Having worked in several health care facilities, I have noticed more doctors are identifying themselves as MD’s on their documentation and even how they are identified by the hospital or clinic.
Here is what I’m thinking. When I was a kid and went to the doctor, it meant sticking my tongue out and saying "Ahh". Followed by some booster shot or needle for whatever was going around. I did not think of the doctor as anything other than medical in nature. Now every time you turn on the news or some talk show there is a doctor of something.
True that anyone with a PhD can call himself or herself a doctor, and I do not take anything away from that accomplishment, because they worked damn hard to get it. However, I don’t associate the PhD doctors of botany, astrophysics, zoology and business with the term doctor I grew up with and recognize.
Yes, maybe Dr. Seuss confused me as a little kid, and I still don't know who he is, but it seems different in how the word doctor is used today. Besides those with a PhD being able to call themselves doctor, in 5 minutes I could think of Dr. Dre, Dr. Oz, Dr. Drew, Dr. Laura, Dr. Phil, Dr. Scholl’s, Dr. Pepper, Dr. Dolittle and the Rug Doctor. Isn’t Dr. Oz the only real medical doctor in this bunch?
Along with that Nurse Practitioners will have to have a PhD starting in 2015. I think I will be happy to just be an NP, even if I get a PhD.
Here is what I’m thinking. When I was a kid and went to the doctor, it meant sticking my tongue out and saying "Ahh". Followed by some booster shot or needle for whatever was going around. I did not think of the doctor as anything other than medical in nature. Now every time you turn on the news or some talk show there is a doctor of something.
True that anyone with a PhD can call himself or herself a doctor, and I do not take anything away from that accomplishment, because they worked damn hard to get it. However, I don’t associate the PhD doctors of botany, astrophysics, zoology and business with the term doctor I grew up with and recognize.
Yes, maybe Dr. Seuss confused me as a little kid, and I still don't know who he is, but it seems different in how the word doctor is used today. Besides those with a PhD being able to call themselves doctor, in 5 minutes I could think of Dr. Dre, Dr. Oz, Dr. Drew, Dr. Laura, Dr. Phil, Dr. Scholl’s, Dr. Pepper, Dr. Dolittle and the Rug Doctor. Isn’t Dr. Oz the only real medical doctor in this bunch?
Along with that Nurse Practitioners will have to have a PhD starting in 2015. I think I will be happy to just be an NP, even if I get a PhD.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
"The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men"
When school ended, I thought I would be smart and make myself available whenever they needed me to pick up as many shifts as possible. I knew that once school resumed in September the last thing I would feel like doing is working most weekends.
Well the idea might have sounded good two months ago, but now they are calling almost every day. In most situations this would be fine, however, now I’m tired of working with patients. Well, it’s not so much the patients, because only a few are the ones who suck your motivation and energy, like the government has sucked the confidence out of the American people. It is more the unit politics and certain staff that make for difficult shifts. You learn quickly who the team players are; they jump in and help when it’s needed. While some are never available, that is unless they need you.
The money helps, but being burned out before school and clinicals even start is not a good idea. So how much is the lottery up to?
Well the idea might have sounded good two months ago, but now they are calling almost every day. In most situations this would be fine, however, now I’m tired of working with patients. Well, it’s not so much the patients, because only a few are the ones who suck your motivation and energy, like the government has sucked the confidence out of the American people. It is more the unit politics and certain staff that make for difficult shifts. You learn quickly who the team players are; they jump in and help when it’s needed. While some are never available, that is unless they need you.
The money helps, but being burned out before school and clinicals even start is not a good idea. So how much is the lottery up to?
Gratuitous cute mouse picture
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